Global drug spending to hit $1.4 trillion in 2020

Global spending on medicines will reach $1.4 trillion in 2020, driven by increased healthcare access in emerging markets and high-priced new drugs for cancer and other diseases, according to a forecast by IMS Health released on Wednesday.

That is up from about $1.07 trillion this year, representing a compound annual growth rate of 4 to 7 percent over the next five years, the “Global Medicines Use in 2020” report compiled by IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics found.

Some 225 new drugs will come to market over the next five years, about a third aimed at cancer, as well as medicines for rare diseases, which can carry ultra-high price tags, and treatments for autoimmune diseases and heart disease, the report said.

The cost will be partially offset by patent expirations expected to reduce spending on branded medicines by $178 billion, including $41 billion from biologic drugs as cheaper biosimilars become more widely adopted, the report forecast.

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